This week, we learn more about Marsha Morien, chief administrative officer of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology.

Marsha Morien

Name: Marsha Morien

Hometown: Philadelphia

No. of years at UNMC: 38

Tell us a bit about what you do here at UNMC.

My primary appointment in Business and Finance is a springboard to lead and collaborate on projects campuswide. I'm a founding member of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology and have a faculty appointment in the College of Public Health. I co-chair the eHealth Council for the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, which fosters an opportunity to pursue public health goals for health information exchange.

Commitment to excellence is one of UNMC's brand values. Tell us of a time you witnessed a person or group demonstrate commitment to excellence at UNMC.

A current example is the mini surgical robots for minimally invasive surgery that are the result of collaborations between surgeons at UNMC and engineers at UNL. They were just an idea 10 years ago. We have worked with the U.S. Army Medical Materials Command and NASA Johnson Space Center on developing the robots and UNeMed licensed the technology to a start-up company in Nebraska for commercialization.

What is your favorite winter activity?

Take a vacation! As soon as Tom O'Connor finishes asking me questions, my husband, Neal, and I are leaving for Hawaii!

List three things people may not know about you.

I never expected to live in Nebraska for more than 10 years. ... Moving was a way of life. However, the city of Omaha, the career opportunities for my husband and me and our friends made us realize that this is a place to drop roots and grow.

One day, I received a call from the White House to invite me to attend the official launch of the 1997 campaign by HHS Secretary Donna Shalala and Vice President Al Gore to increase organ donation by 20 percent by the year 2000. Later, the NBC Today Show featured me wearing my "Share your Life" cloissone pin in the crowd scene to share the important message of organ and tissue donation.

Wherever my office is located is the next building to be demolished or renovated! Watch out Wittson Hall!